I smile when I'm using this camera...

neildg28com · May 29, 2013

As someone who owns and uses some of the finest DSLR cameras ever made on a daily basis I want something very different from my compact ‘walkabout’ camera. I make the vast majority of my income from taking pictures and I make the rest from teaching, writing and consulting about photography. For me to want to go out and just take pictures for the joy of it, the camera has to be fun to use. And it is on that simple point that Fujifilm are getting it so completely right with their x-series range. The X100 was a great start and the X10 was a brilliant companion. Since then we’ve had the X Pro1, the XE1, X100s and this X20 to enjoy. The single factor that unites all of these cameras is the pleasure you can take from using them when you spend so much time using other (better?) cameras.

That brings me to the next point. There’s no way that I’d use the X20 instead of a Canon EOS5D MkII or MkIII for a normal assignment but on my own time, taking pictures for pleasure and for the family the Fujifilm X20 is wonderful. It will be beaten at some point and it remains true that it isn’t the best compact in terms of image quality, speed, flexibility or any of a dozen other quantifiable factors. I propose to introduce a new scale based on the likelihood that you’ll actually bother to take the camera out and use it willingly and with a smile on your face. On that measure, and that measure alone, the Fujifilm gets a perfect ten. Right now, I’m off to the shops to get my morning paper; on foot and with my X20 over my shoulder…

DaveyG · May 29, 2013

I agree with your sentiment. There are "better" cameras out there if you want faster speed, superb image quality etc, but for the sheer ease of having a camera that takes pics and is fun and delightful to use, it ticks the boxes for me too. I'm even beginning to warm to the "odd" image quality that I'm getting straight out of camera (which I have another thread about)

PAUL TILL · May 29, 2013

neildg28com said:
neildg28com wrote:
I’m off to the shops to get my morning paper; on foot and with my X20 over my shoulder…

The trouble is you can get far better images with a camera that will fit in your pocket. If you need to carry it on your shoulder you may as well take your DSLR.

neildg28com · May 29, 2013

I cannot think of a camera that I'd WANT to use that is as handy as the X20, has an optical viewfinder and produces decent files. My whole point is that this camera is a joy to use. Carrying a small camera over your shoulder is absolutely no hassle.

yellodog · May 29, 2013

You won't win over any pixel peepers or fanbois with such a base sentiment but I'll second it

+1

Viramati · May 29, 2013

PAUL TILL said:
PAUL TILL wrote:

PAUL TILL said:

neildg28com wrote:
I’m off to the shops to get my morning paper; on foot and with my X20 over my shoulder…

Click to expand...

The trouble is you can get far better images with a camera that will fit in your pocket. If you need to carry it on your shoulder you may as well take your DSLR.

chris_j_l · May 29, 2013

My X20 finished charging. I have to say, photographically it is the most fun you can have with your trousers on.

The quixotic NR and high ISO performance I feel I can ignore. What I can't ignore is the feeling of control as I put that viewfinder to my eye and the feeling that it and I are going to be very good friends.

As an engineer the construction just reaches out to me - it feels what a Epson RD2 could have been.

C

PAUL TILL · May 29, 2013

The build quality isn't in the same league, you'll be extremely lucky if its all still working and nothing has dropped off by Christmas.

Sir Corey of Deane · May 29, 2013

PAUL TILL said:
PAUL TILL wrote:

The build quality isn't in the same league, you'll be extremely lucky if its all still working and nothing has dropped off by Christmas.

--

"The Fujifilm X20 is a true enthusiast's compact, with solid build quality, a fast lens, unique optical viewfinder, and sharp, high resolution photos..." DPReview.

With 'solid build quality', it doesn't sound likely that something will drop off by Christmas 2018 leave alone Christmas 2013

.

Jimbo70 · May 29, 2013

Forgive Mr. Till. He seems to be a very lonely, unhappy person that delights in raining on other peoples parade. The X20 makes me want to take pictures. I had DSLRs and film cameras before that, but they were just tools to get a job done. This camera is different.

neildg28com · May 29, 2013

I've said in my review that I am a bit worried about the small clip that holds the battery in place - especially given the number of times I expect to be changing batteries. Other than that, it's a pretty solid camera.

Sir Corey of Deane · May 29, 2013

I can easily forgive Mr Till as he's obviously the resurrected Till Eulenspiegel who was a bit of a joker around the European continent about 700 years ago.

And we have to make allowances for his age!

Gaze · May 29, 2013

neildg28com said:
neildg28com wrote:

I've said in my review that I am a bit worried about the small clip that holds the battery in place - especially given the number of times I expect to be changing batteries. Other than that, it's a pretty solid camera.

PAUL TILL · May 30, 2013

Sir Corey of Deane said:
Sir Corey of Deane wrote:

Sir Corey of Deane said:

PAUL TILL wrote:

The build quality isn't in the same league, you'll be extremely lucky if its all still working and nothing has dropped off by Christmas.

--

Click to expand...

"The Fujifilm X20 is a true enthusiast's compact, with solid build quality, a fast lens, unique optical viewfinder, and sharp, high resolution photos..." DPReview.

With 'solid build quality', it doesn't sound likely that something will drop off by Christmas 2018 leave alone Christmas 2013 .

It has a metal body, so yes it does feel solid, the trouble is they have just stuck all the bits to the body and it's those that come loose and fall off.

I had four X10's all became faulty, the OVF housing was loose and about to fall off on two of them.

Unlike most in this forum I speak from experience, you don't have to take my word for it. I get a little tired of telling people "I told you so".

neildg28com · May 30, 2013

I've bought Energizer replacement batteries and they are a lot better than the original Fuji ones supplied with the camera. I've just shot a commercial commission using Canon 5D MkII and MkIII cameras and they actually felt huge! I have owned and used dozens of digital compacts since I first tested the Canon Powershot G1 and they were all deeply flawed in one way or another. That's half the fun of shooting with small cameras: finding the compromise that works for you.

I've been a working photographer for 27 years and I still love doing what I do. Having the right compact brings a different dimension to my love of photography and all I was trying to do when I started this thread was to say how much I loved the way that this camera, with it's many quirks and faults, made me feel when I was using it.

I was very active on DP Review back when it first started and became completely disillusioned when the anoraks and pixel-peepers took over. It's nice to see that there are plenty of people around who "get" the joy of using particular cameras even if the old crowd are still here as well.

PAUL TILL · May 30, 2013

Just read your blog, you wrote:

Just over five weeks after taking delivery of my Fujifilm X20 I’m sitting here trying to gather my thoughts and opinions about this intriguing little camera. It is far from perfect and it doesn’t fulfil all of the requirements that I though that I had when I bought it. In several areas its performance is below par and working with the RAW files is not as easy as it could or should be.

Most sane people would have dumped it with that view, I guess you're just a glutton for punishment. Maybe next time buy a camera that can fulfil your needs, to think that you teach others!

chris_j_l · May 30, 2013

Well, you got him there. Here is your prize.....

...

neildg28com · May 30, 2013

I'm a photographer. If I was completely sane and rational I'd have taken the transferable skills that I have and gone into an entirely different profession. When I'm doing my day job I use the best tools for the job. In my own time I use cameras that make me smile. I'm sorry that you don't get that distinction.

I love the attempted insult about teaching... most amusing...

PAUL TILL · May 30, 2013

chris_j_l said:
chris_j_l wrote:

Well, you got him there. Here is your prize.....

...

I think his smile was in disbelief if he's honest, he couldn't believe that a premium compact from 2013 was this bad. Still you know what they say, it's only a tool and only as good as the person behind it.

PAUL TILL · May 30, 2013

Getting good results with expensive gear is easy, getting them from mediocre products takes skill. I guess you don't teach that to your students.

I smile when I'm using this camera...

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